Some of the most shocking death cases have been featured in Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries, and one of them was the disappearance followed by the killing of a 23-year-old, Alonzo Brooks.
As seen in the fourth episode of Unsolved Mysteries volume 1, No Ride Home, Alonzo went missing after attending a party in La Cygne, Kansas, on April 3, 2004. Alonzo didn't know anyone at the party, and his friends also left him alone to buy cigarettes.
As seen in Unsolved Mysteries, his friend didn't return to Alonzo, leaving him behind among strangers. The next day, there was no information about Alonzo's whereabouts, and everyone, including his family, started to search for him.
The police, Alonzo's friends, and family kept searching for him until May 1, 2004, when his parents found Alonzo's body near the party location. It was a major shocker since nobody expected to find Alonzo dead.
How did Alonzo Brooks die? Exploring the case featured in Unsolved Mysteries
Alonzo Brooks was a young and enthusiastic adult who went missing after attending a party in Kansas. His death and disappearance were featured in Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries, and the case was also reopened a few years after he tragically died.
As seen in Unsolved Mysteries, Alonzo's mother and other family members and friends believed that his body was preserved for days and thrown out after some time near the creek.
The autopsy reports couldn't determine the cause of Alonzo's death, and rumors started that his dead body was preserved in a freezer. His mother also believed that it was a hate crime because Alonzo was among the three African Americans in the party. However, his death remained a mystery until the case was reopened.
When did the FBI reopen Alonzo Brooks' death case?
After an investigation and finding no concrete evidence or any suspect, the case was closed without declaring the exact reason for Alonzo's death. However, in 2019, the FBI decided to reopen the case and bring justice. The investigators believed that someone might know about what happened on May 1, 2004, and they might get a lead.
The official X (earlier Twitter) page of Unsolved Mysteries also announced that Alonzo's body was exhumed and his case has been reopened. They also announced a $100K reward for anyone who helps the FBI with a clue.
According to the official website of the United States Attorney's Office (District of Kansas), then-US Attorney Stephen McAllister shed light on Alonzo's death and said:
"His death certainly was suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know(s) what happened that night in April 2004. It is past time for the truth to come out."
McAllister added:
"The code of silence must be broken. Alonzo’s family deserves to know the truth, and it is time for justice to be served."
Alonzo's death became highly suspicious because no one among the party attendants said a word about Alonzo. There were endless allegations, including that there were racists in the party who wanted to have a fight when a black man, Alonzo, troubled a girl, among others.
Stephen McAllister also stated that he's convinced some people know what happened on that day and are "keeping terrible secrets all these years and bearing a horrible burden." The investigators requested that people come forward and help Alonzo's family get justice.
Following the case featured in Unsolved Mysteries, the late Alonzo Brooks' family reportedly received tips about his disappearance. The series' co-creator also shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that Unsolved Mysteries devoted more attention to the case, hoping that someone would come forward one day.
Unsolved Mysteries is available on Netflix.
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